Not Just a Pretty Voice, My Friends

Hey you know how John Mayer sometimes makes really funny faces when he sings? Then he goes and takes a picture like this ... and totally redeems himself!

photo from people.com

Ok I'm done. Back to work.

The Church of Atheism?

If you have a few moments today, read this article recently published in New York Magazine. It really got me thinking about the idea of church vs. Church. And I realized I really don't have a clear understanding of this whole concept. But I want to.

So what, exactly, is the Church? Or church? I'd love input from any of you more philosphically, theologically minded types because I'm a bit confused.

Here is a quote from the article ...

"The most successful movements in history, after all—Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, etc.—all have creeds, cathedrals, schools, hierarchies, rituals, money, clerics, and some version of a heavenly afterlife. Churches fill needs, goes the argument—they inculcate ethics, give meaning, build communities."

and another ...

"They aim to remove God from the church, while leaving the church, at least large parts of it, standing."

What is your reaction?
What, as Christ-followers, should our response be?
Or should we respond at all?

Four Things

Skip and Carolyn both tagged me so I guess I should do this. Here ya go. Useless info about Becky.

Four jobs I've held:
KFC
Lifeguard/Swim Instructor
Spanish Tutor
Coffee Shop

Four movies I could watch over and over:
The Last of the Mohicans
Once
The Sandlot
The Notebook

Places I've lived (in order):
Colorado Springs, CO
Grand Rapids, MI
Denia, Spain
Chicago, IL
Colorado Springs, CO (5 different places!)

Four TV shows I like:
The Office
Arrested Development
LOST
American Idol

Four favorite foods:
French Toast
tacos
my dad's Toffee Coffee ice cream
Mint Milano Minis

Where would I rather be?
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Riding my bike
At a John Mayer concert
Heaven

Four people I'm tagging:
Suzanne
Chris
Krissy
Tim

My Dad

My dad turns 56 today.

Want to know a secret?
I have the world's best dad.
Some might think I'm exaggerating (especially if you read this post) but I'm not.

He's the best. I'll tell you why.

My dad made breakfast for our family every day. And this wasn't just a quick bowl of cereal ... it was a full on three course breakfast. Every single day. Wednesdays were egg days. Friday was coffee cake. And don't even get me started on Sunday Morning Breakfast. (WOO!)

When we were little, we used to get on his back and play with his hair. Then we'd say, "Do pushups, Dad!" and our dad - obviously the strongest man on the planet - would do pushups with us on his back.

At night when we were tired he would carry us, all four of us, up the stairs at one time.

Every night he would sit on the landing between our bedrooms and read books to us. He'd read until he dozed off and we'd have to yell at him to wake him up.

He makes the best ice cream in the world. Seriously. My current favorite is Coffee Toffee. I'm a diehard fan of his Mint Chip and the Oreo is pretty amazing too.

When it would frost when I was in high school, I'd walk out the door for school and without fail, I'd find my windows scraped and the car toasty warm.

Speaking of snow, whenever some fell - even just a dusting - he was out shoveling the sidewalk. But he didn't stop at the edge of our yard. Often he'd shovel the whole block. Just because.

He loves my mom without condition ... the way I hope my husband loves me someday.

I could go on. But this is starting to sound like a eugugoly so I'll stop.

Happy birthday, Daddy.
I love you.

Moo Dang, that was good!

A little over a year ago my friend Wendy and I started a monthly cooking night. The idea was that we would pick a type of ethnic food that neither of us had cooked before and learn how to cook it. We pick an appetizer, a few dishes, a typical drink and a dessert.

For the first 10 months or so it was just Wendy and me. Then our friend Jamie joined us. Each month we seem to have one or two new people. 16 months later it's turned into a full-fledged party! (Sadly, Wendy moved to Seattle a few months ago, but we've carried on the tradition.)

Last night was Thai night. Julisa and I hosted it at our house.

Here's Julisa making Tom Ka Gai.


Heidi works on her masterpiece, Pad Thai.


It was a lot of work, but worth it in the end. Ta da!


Bring on the grub!


Here is the yummy looking Thai salad, made by the lovely Suzanne.


Suzanne and I ready to eat!


Here is the finished product:
Tom Ka Gai, Mango Sticky Rice, Thai Iced Tea, Pad Thai, Thai Salad, Chicken Satay, and last but not least ... Moo Dang!


And for a close-up ...
Are you hungry yet?

In case you were wondering ... here's a list of what we've made so far. Any suggestions for next month?

Jan - New England
Feb - Greek
Mar - French
Apr - Hawaiian
May/June - Mexican
Jul - Japanese
Aug - Spanish
Sept - Italian
Oct - Caribbean
Nov - Indian
Dec - Moroccan
Jan - Argentinian
Feb - German
Mar - Irish
Apr - Thai

He Knows Your Name

Want to see what Compassion looks like lived out?

This is one of our artists from Compassion Netherlands meeting his sponsored boy.

Get your kleenex ready ...



Sponsor a child.

Speaking of getting old ...

... now I don't have to wonder what the world will be like when I'm 80.

Sweet!